Department Spotlight: Utah restoring World War I memorials

Department Spotlight: Utah restoring World War I memorials

Editor’s note: This is a weekly series of Department Spotlight stories featuring unique programs and initiatives of departments throughout The American Legion. Department adjutants are invited to recommend subjects for their departments by emailing magazine@legion.org.

The first World War I Doughboy statue in the state of Utah has fallen into disrepair.

The monument, in Ogden, has been a frequent target of vandals. Over the years, they have spray-painted it, bent the soldier’s gun while trying to remove it, taken shots at it and tried to steal it. The monument’s original helmet and the bolt on the soldier’s replica 1903 Springfield rifle were both stolen.

“It’s a little worse for wear,” National Executive Committeeman Terry Schow said. “That’s a shame because people come from miles around to see it.”

The work to preserve and overhaul the Doughboy statue is a large-scale effort involving the Department of Utah, local posts, the 100th Anniversary Committee, national Legion staff, congressional representatives, Ogden city government and other nonprofit organizations.

“The Weber County Historical Society contacted me and I started gathering letters of support for the renovation of the World War I monument in the Ogden City Cemetery,” Schow said. “My post, Baker Merrill Post 9, donated the statue to Ogden City many years ago and as a result we have a keen interest in its restoration. The Department of Utah has been supportive. Our current department commander is from Ogden.”

The department has assisted with grant operations as well as outreach with potential affiliates from the corporate world, state government and civic groups such as historic societies and museums. The department is supportive of the effort and sees it as a way to create a plan for other posts that have monuments in need for work in their communities.

“It was the first monument that we have started on this project,” Department Adjutant Greg Rowley said. “Now, we are seeking out posts in rural areas – many of which are in a wide swath of space pockmarked by small towns. A lot of them have been searching to identify other types of structures, plaques and things like that that may have been ignored or overlooked the past 100 years.”

The Utah project is an example of how departments and posts can participate in the 100 Cities/100 Memorials program. In May, The American Legion National Executive Committee passed a resolution to support and promote the memorials program that offers matching funds of up to $2,000 for projects to restore World War I monuments and memorials in communities throughout the United States. Click here for information on how to raise funds locally and apply for grants.

Ogden is a “jumping off point,” Rowley said. As the department and post come to a better understanding of the process, they are creating an outline that others can use to do a similar repair project, including applying for grants and conducting outreach.

“Though others may not be able to get specific grant monies, they can certainly seek local support from their local communities for donations, volunteer labor from Legionnaires and Boy Scouts, civic-minded groups and others,” Rowley said. “That’s the plan, starting with the Ogden monument. We’re going to keep it going. We want to make it as beautiful as it was when it was first put up.”

The Ogden statue, sculpted by Gilbert P. Risvold, was dedicated in the 1920s. While it used to stand on the balcony of American Legion Post 9, it was moved to the cemetery shortly after World War II.

Schow is working to secure grants from the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. In addition to securing funds, drawings have been finalized and cost estimates have been projected.

“It’s part of the history of our post, and, of course, it has fallen in disrepair,” Schow said. “We are coming up on the 100th anniversary of the Legion and World War I so it is a good time to get it restored and renovated from a historical perspective.”

The goal is to rededicate the statue by Nov. 11, 2018, the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. To Schow, it will have a lasting impact well beyond the centennial celebrations.

“It means that we are preserving a piece of our history,” he said. “I am a firm believer in recalling out history for future generations and those who served from World War I and through today. It’s preserving an important part of our history.”